June 21-Final Day of the trip in Rome!

Our last day in Rome (last day of the trip) and we had so much to conquer!  The whole group headed out together on the metro and we ran into our first pick-pocketing incident.  Sierra’s Aunt Sherry got her passport stolen in a matter of seconds!  Beware if you are every in Europe and especially crowded Rome, these young unassuming girls and boys work together and are good.  Luckily Sherry had a copy of her passport and was able to get a new temporary one from the U.S. Embassy in no time. 

The tour of the Colosseum was incredible!  Built almost 2,000 years ago the structure is just massive and has so much history. It was sort of eerie walking up the same steps that the gladiators before they fought to the death.  We then broke up into groups to take on the town.  Many went to tour the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, but we decided to jump on an open-air bus tour to squeeze in as much as possible.  (Plus we were sick of walking around in the sweltering heat!)

Throughout the day we saw it all—the Colosseum, Roman Forum, the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, and I don’t know what else.  The architecture is gorgeous, but “after awhile it all looks the same,” according to the girls.  It was an exhausting and hot day, but we definitely got a complete look at Rome and all that it has to offer.  

 That night we did one last team dinner and decided to take another adventure on the metro.  We made it to the Trevi Fountain, which is even more beautiful at night.   

Finished a little souvenir shopping and had our last gelato…I’m pretty sure that was the girls’ favorite thing.  Then back to the hotel to pack and to figure out how to fit all of our new treasures into our one 50 lb. suitcase!  Including my favorite…the bobble-head pope that Jenn Oppio bought for me!